(Mayo): A total of 331 people died on our roads this year. Based on that figure the gloomy prediction must be that at least another 100 people, who are alive, active and healthy tonight, will not live to enjoy Christmas 1998; they will die on our roads. According to Dublin Corporation's road safety plan, 2,480 people were injured in Dublin last year. In spite of the carnage of the previous two weeks 14 people died on our roads in the past seven days. The reality is that the vast majority of those accidents and, consequently, those deaths could have been avoided.
Road safety and road traffic policies are not working. While I welcomed the initiative launched by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government a number of weeks ago, it is not working. I welcome initiatives such as Operation Lifesaver. In spite of the clamp-down by the Garda in the pilot project area in question, 37,000 speeding offences were detected in a three month period alone. I welcome the promotional work done by the National Safety Authority and the research being done by Beaumont Hospital into age categories of accident prone drivers, but the message is not getting home and the slaughter continues unabated.
From September 1997 to July 1998 the percentage of cars exceeding speed limits increased from 18 per cent to 28 per cent. The percentage of trucks exceeding the 50 miles per mile inter-urban speed limit increased from 37 per cent in January to 42 per cent in March. We have the statistics and we know the causes of the deaths — speed, drink, inexperienced drunk drivers, carelessness, recklessness and negligence.
A multi-pronged approach is needed. In terms of road deaths, the day of the pilot project is long gone. The annual drop in the number of accidents and drink driving offences at Christmas shows clearly that intensified enforcement works. The same level of intensive enforcement is needed not on a hit and miss basis, but all year round. It is a crude analysis but it is a fact that the fear of being caught works when it comes to deterring people.
To categorise as an accident a scene where gross negligence, speed, drink or so-called joyriding is the cause of death on the roads is a misnomer and trivialises what is manslaughter. To charge somebody with dangerous driving, having through recklessness left a family without a father or a mother, is to minimise the offence and devalue it. Manslaughter and attempted manslaughter should be the charges.
There is a need for the courts to disqualify people for speed limit excesses. There is a need for insurance companies to refuse cover irrespective of how much one is willing, able or prepared to pay. There is a need for the power of instant confiscation of vehicles for the Garda in certain situations. There is a need to change the rules for the availability and retention of provisional licences. It is ridiculous that of the 1.7 million drivers on our roads, 327,000 hold provisional licences. There is a need for an attitude change. While one would like it to happen through public awareness, civic mindedness and education, if it means forcing an attitude change, then so be it.
We introduced what was described as harsh and draconian legislation to deal with the aftermath of the horrors of the Omagh bomb. This year already more than ten times more people have died on our roads than died in Omagh. If draconian measures are required, we must not shirk this course of action. Too many innocent victims have suffered. The time for tough talking is over. Tough, effective action is now required.